Just GO! 16 of Our Absolute Faves

Featured Image: Girls In Wonderland in Orlando, FL. Photo courtesy of Girls In Wonderland.

Let’s Start with NYC

The Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art—New York, NY

If there is one thing New York gets right, it’s museums. Spend hours at one of New York’s very best, the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art. It’s the only dedicated LGBTQ+ art museum in the world with a mission to exhibit and preserve LGBTQ+ art and foster the artists who create it. The museum has three spectacular exhibitions currently on view.

Rocío García: The Object of Power is Power presents the bold works of Rocío García, a fixture in contemporary Cuban painting. This exhibit is on view until September 20, 2026. Shu Lea Cheang: LOVER LOVE is a film collaboration between Shu Lea Cheang and eight intergenerational performers in Tucson, Arizona who discuss their lives as trans and gender nonconforming people in the U.S. You can view this film through January 3, 2027. Hortensia Mi Kafchin: Through Different Eyes explores different forms of eyes, from human to robot. Through Kafchin’s paintings, the eyes morph into blood cells and DNA strands, exploring perception and consciousness. This exhibit is also on view through January 3, 2027.

The Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art is located at 26 Wooster Street and open Wednesday through Sunday for a suggested donation. Learn more at leslielohman.org.

The Alice Austen House—Staten Island, NY

We know no one wants to go to Staten Island, but the Alice Austen House will surely make your ferry ride worth it. If you haven’t made the trip out to visit this national site of LGBTQ+ history, today’s the day! American photographer Alice Austen (1866-1952) took more than 7,000 photographs and is known as one of America’s most prolific and earliest female photographers. Alice spent 55 years in a loving relationship with Gertrude Tate, documenting their life together.

The Alice Austen House is home to a permanent exhibition, New Eyes on Alice Austen, a multi-year project exploring Austen’s contributions to “photographic, immigration, women’s, and LGBTQ history.” From June 6 through August 22, visitors can also enjoy Radical Botany: The Politics of Flowers, a group exhibition showcasing contemporary artists whose works use flowers to address political issues.

Visit the Alice Austen House at 2 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, Tuesday through Saturday for a suggested donation. Learn more at aliceausten.org.

NewFest Pride—May 28-June 1 New York, NY

Get red carpet ready for the premiere of the year’s best queer films, Q&As, parties, and outdoor screenings. For the drag fans, step aboard the Glamazonian Express at the New York premiere of Stop! That! Train! starring RuPaul as President Gagwell. The opening night screening kicks off NewFest Pride on May 28 at SVA Theatre.

For women’s basketball fans, NewFest will be hosting a New York Liberty Pride Night Watch Party on May 29, as well as the New York premiere of The Brittney Griner Story on June 1 at the Gansevoort Plaza, located in the Meatpacking District. Everyone’s favorite gay hockey show, Heated Rivalry, will have its open-air debut at Pier. Keep your eyes peeled, as specific event times and details will be released soon.

General admission tickets start at $19.50, or you could opt for the Big Screen Pass to access all in-person screenings for $115. If you can’t make it to the festival, no sweat! You can score a virtual pass for $35 that allows you to stream films from anywhere in the U.S. Check out the full lineup at newfest.org/newfest-pride-2026.

Incredipole’s Pridetopia Showcase—May 30 Brooklyn, NY

If you want to see a jaw-dropping show, look no further. Brooklyn’s best pole and aerial studio is putting on the Pride showcase of a lifetime. It’s so good, it might just inspire you to hop on the pole yourself. They’ve got an unbelievable lineup of vibrant, unapologetic celebrations of queer expression, movement, and performance art.

Incredipole’s founders, Sharon Goldberg and Kirstin Dahmer, created a studio unlike any other in the city that’s welcoming people of every background, identity, and experience level, opening up a safe and empowering space for self-expression through movement. The Pridetopia showcase promises pole dancers, aerialists, and performers who each bring their own unique voice and story to the stage.

Incredipole will also be raffling off prizes from community sponsors, including Xanadu, Haus of Swag, Liquid Gemini, Talea, and more! Get tickets and more info on Instagram @incredipole.

The Butch/Femme Social Club Presents Pride Prom—June 12 Brooklyn, NY

If you never got a chance to be your true self at your high school prom or want to relive the nostalgia, Pride Prom is the perfect party. It’s everything you love about prom (cute outfits and dancing) minus the awkwardness of actually being in high school.

Grab your butch, femme, or anyone in between and celebrate community with DJ Tikka Masala and drag hosted by I’m Baby, featuring RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 16’s Amanda Tori Meating. Explore sapphic vendors like flash tattoos from Mars Fitch and tarot readings by Jen Leno. There are plenty of surprises, so start planning your outfits and order your corsage! Learn more @butchfemmesocialclub.

Queer Urban Orchestra—June 20 New York, NY

Get all dressed up and enjoy the beautiful sounds of the Queer Urban Orchestra, the Northeast’s only LGBTQ+ orchestra. Founded in 2009, QUO’s membership is open to all adult musicians regardless of age, race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The orchestra’s 2025-2026 season, A Place For Us, celebrates the beauty and necessity of queer spaces.

Catch QUO’s Pride Gala: There’s No Place Like Home, their final performance of the season, on June 20. This incredible night will showcase the magic of The Wizard of Oz and trans film composer Angela Morley. The orchestra will perform the winning work of the 2026 Vanguard Composer Competition. The performance will take place at Saint Peter’s Church at 619 Lexington Avenue. Tickets range from $30-$40. Find more information at queerurbanorchestra.org.

The Grove & Pines Film Festival—September 18-20 Fire Island, NY

Hop on the ferry and head to Fire Island for the debut of The Grove & Pines Film Festival, a nonprofit festival celebrating queer cinema. This three-day festival will take place in two iconic Fire Island venues: Whyte Hall in Fire Island Pines and the Cherry Grove Community House in Cherry Grove. Whyte Hall has been home to hundreds of queer festivals and events, including the Fire Island Dance Festival and Women’s Pride in the Pines. The Cherry Grove Community House is recognized as the oldest continuously operating gay summer theater in the nation.

The location’s historical significance adds to the community and culture that The Grove & Pines Film Festival is cultivating. Festivalgoers will be immersed in films created by “queer filmmakers and allies whose work centers, uplifts, or engages with themes, experiences, or communities,” the festival’s site states.

Support the debut of The Grove & Pines Film Festival by purchasing a day pass for $50 or get access to all three days for $110 at groveandpinesfilmfestival.com.

Scuff Queer Country Dancing—Weekly events New York, NY and Brooklyn, NY

Dust off those boots, cowgirl! It’s time to dance. Scuff isn’t just a country western dance party. It’s a queer safe space that adopts the policy, “anyone can dance.” Yes, even if you’ve never two-stepped in your life. Scuff hosts both parties and dance classes, so you can learn a little before you show off on the dance floor.

Instructors with experience in same-sex dancing will coach you on line dancing, West Coast Swing, country swing, shadow, waltz, and two-step. Scuff offers both beginner and advanced classes. Every party is beginner-friendly, creating a welcoming environment for you to express yourself through dance, y’all!

Come solo or with a friend or partner, and make sure to wear something you don’t mind getting a little sweaty in. Sign up for your next class at scuff.us.

Get Outta Town

Go Girl! Saugatuck—May 29-31 Douglas, MI

Think of Saugatuck like the P-Town of the Midwest. It’s gay as hell and quaint to boot, and Go Girl! is a weekend just for us. During the day, there’s a pool to get wet in all weekend and workshops from Zumba to spoken word to belly dancing. Vendors will be open daily, so make sure you go home with a souvenir of the trip! At night, laugh ’til your sides hurt at the And She’s Funny Too comedy show, sweat it out to Chicago house music by DJ Lori Branch and DJ Gloria, who are spinning double time. You don’t want to miss the All Star Review variety show, co-hosted by Mimi Gonzalez and Jaye Will, and featuring drag kings, burlesque dancers, and musical headliner Deidre D.S. Sense Smith.

To close out the weekend, take a piece of paradise home with you. Join your fellow partygoers at West Side County Park to go rockpicking and find “lightning rocks” or even a last-minute connection. Go Girl! has been making an inclusive space for all on the female spectrum since 2016, and the girls keep coming back for good reason!

Grab a day pass, starting at $50, or splurge for the full weekend pass for $111- $121. Get yours today at gogirlsaugatuck.com.

Womxn of Color Weekend—June 3-8 Provincetown, MA

Is it really summer without a trip to P-Town? Take in the salt air and Black sapphic energy at the 20th annual Womxn of Color Weekend. Spend a week surrounded by queer, trans, nonbinary, and genderfluid people enjoying beach days, speed dating, painting nights, parties, workshops, a queer prom, shared meals, fitness classes, and much more.

Founded in 2006, WOCW wanted to change the culture in Massachusetts and beyond, creating a space to nurture intersectionality while soaking up the sun. WOCW makes it all easy, with a simple-to-follow schedule, a guide to P-Town lodging, and useful maps of the idyllic seaside town. Whether you come to party, learn, share, reset, or all four—this weekend has exactly what you need. Tickets range from $275 to $450. Learn more about ticket packages, scheduled events, and registration dates at womxnofcolorweekend.com.

Girls In Wonderland—June 4-8 Orlando, FL

It’s about to get wet and wild in Orlando this summer at Girls In Wonderland. Legendary pool parties, packed dance floors, tropical cocktails, and an endless amount of lesbians under the Florida summer sun.

Kick off the long weekend on Thursday, June 4, with a Welcome Happy Hour to connect with fellow partiers before heading to the GIW Opening Night Party. You can get your flirt on or keep it friendly as the DJs spin. On Friday, June 5, get started bright and early at the Wet Pool Party. Then, get your laughs in at the comedy show presented by Olivia Travel and get wild at the evening’s Sapphic Safari party. Saturday, June 6, the party continues with the Love Island Pool Party, and The Space Cowboy and Aliens dance party goes all night. On Sunday, June 7, soak up your last day of sun at the Sunday Funday Pool Party before heading to the Last Chance dance party, which goes until the wee hours of Monday morning.

Produced by Amy Alonso, Alison Burgos, and Yesenia Leon, Girls In Wonderland is one of the hottest women’s events in the country. Not only is it the perfect place for late-night ragers and daytime pool parties, but it’s also a great opportunity to make lifelong friends. And you’re supporting a good cause while doing it. GIW benefits Our Rainbow Nest, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting LGBTQ+ individuals and couples in starting and growing their families. Festival passes, which guarantee access to every event, start at $164. Tickets to individual parties range from $29 to $51. Get yours today at
girlsinwonderland.com.

Queer Wine Fest—June 28 Dayton, Oregon

Consider this your cue to raise a glass. Oregon’s Queer Wine Fest is pouring up one last hoorah. This year’s fifth and final festival will feature 20 gorgeous queer wineries, live music, and delicious bites to raise money for Wine Country Pride one last time. This year promises to be Queer Wine Fest’s biggest event yet.

The festival is hosted by Remy Wines in Dayton, a winery founded in 2006 by queer winemaker Remy Drabkin. Queer Wine Fest features queer-led, owned, and made wines from wineries like St. Innocent, Camins 2 Dreams, and Circadian Cellars, for a day of spreading pride throughout a wine country lacking in queer representation. Take in the vineyard views while sipping on your new favorite wine, listening to local live music, getting a trim from barber Ro, and getting inked up by tattoo artist Lizz Quinn.

Good sips. Tasty food. Queer community. It’s a day you won’t want to miss! Tickets go on sale on June 1 at queerwinefest.com.

Camp It Up Queer Family Camp—July 19-29 Quincy, CA

Ladies, it’s time to grab your tents, your hiking boots, and your loved ones and head on up to Northern California’s Sierra Nevada mountains for Queer Family Camp! Located about four hours from the Bay Area at the Oakland Feather River Camp (OFRC), Queer Family Camp offers all the camp classics you crave—archery, swimming, games, crafts, horseback riding, s’mores, line-dancing, and talent shows—all while being surrounded by mountain air and queer community.

Opened in 1924 by the City of Oakland to encourage residents to soak in the nature of Northern California, OFRC offers discounted rates and camperships of up to 75 percent off the total cost to Oakland residents.

Camp is open to everyone outside of Oakland for a slightly higher cost. CIU offers an affirming space centering queer-led families and families with LGBTQ+ children. Get ready to unplug, reconnect with nature, and indulge in queer campfire fun at Queer Family Camp this summer! Book your next family-friendly adventure at campitup.org.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe—August 7-31 Edinburgh, Scotland

While Edinburgh Festival Fringe isn’t necessarily queer, we know a thing or two about living on the fringe. Take a trip across the pond to experience the world’s greatest platform for creative freedom—it’s literally the biggest performing arts festival in the world. The festival is nearly a month long and includes over 2,000 shows, so you can’t say there isn’t something for you.

If you like live entertainment, anything from cabaret to comedy, theatre and dance to circus and music, you’ll find it at Fringe. In between shows, you can stroll down The Royal Mile to watch street performers stilt walk, eat fire, or juggle while university theatre clubs and dramatic groups hand out flyers and give small taster performances to entice audiences to their shows. If the plane ticket maxed out your budget, there are plenty of free street events you can check out, like an Amy Winehouse sing-along celebration and The Rocky Horror Singalonga Cabaret Show.

With so much to do, you’ll have to see it for yourself. Ticket prices vary per event, but there are many affordable options in the $15-$30 range, including All-Stars Burlesque and an ABBA tribute concert. See all the festival has to offer at edfringe.com.

SisterSpace Weekend Women’s Festival—September 11-13 Northern Maryland

Sisters, get excited! The iconic SisterSpace Weekend Women’s Festival is returning for its 51st year of music, workshops, parties, crafts, fun, and of course, sisterhood. What started as a feminist women’s self-defense weekend has evolved into a transformational experience for cis, trans, and nonbinary folks to escape into.

Nestled in a private camp in northern Maryland, the annual September event has a little something for everyone—poolside dance parties, hikes down to the river, painting in the Georgia O’Keeffe ArtSpace, late-night karaoke, cardio boxing, queer history workshops, erotic play in the Sexuality Space, and a line-up of unmissable music. Spend the weekend discovering all of this and more while finding your home away from home.

Whatever your interest, whoever you are, there is a space for you at SisterSpace. Secure your tent, cabin, or RV and get a sliding scale ticket at sisterspace.org.

Lezapalooza—September 25-27 Northern New Jersey

You deserve to escape to the woods for a weekend. Lezapalooza is easy camping for a diverse collective of women to let their hair down, laugh, enjoy music, art, and friendly competition. No matter how you like to camp, they have tent sites, RV/car spots, cabin bunks, platforms, and even some private cabins available.

They’ve already released their full lineup of events, so you can get especially stoked about what you have to look forward to. You won’t want to miss the Sapphic Sports Showdown, speed dating/friending, karaoke, Sappho’s Corner Vendors, the Saddle Up & Serve Runway Competition, BIPOC meditation, archery, Saturday night dance party, early morning yoga, and drag bingo. Whew! Action-packed!

The best part is you don’t have to stress about coming alone. Over a third of campers come by themselves, and half say they kissed someone they didn’t know! No matter who you come with, you’re almost guaranteed to leave with a new friend or love connection. Day passes start at $137. Secure your campsite at lezapalooza.com.